In a spectacular convergence of talent and opportunity, the Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for Young People recently celebrated its Los Angeles Showcase on June 28th at the iconic Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica. This event, supported by esteemed sponsors George Best Belfast City Airport, NI Connections, and the NI Bureau, brought together with Joan Burney Keatings CEO of Cinemagic a vibrant mix of 500 guests from the realms of film, TV, entertainment, and business. Among the notable attendees were industry luminaries such as Kevin Ryan (who stars alongside Jane Seymour in the hit TV show “Harry Wild,” currently in its third season on Apple TV and Acorn TV, with a fourth season to follow), Junes B. Zahdi (star of the award-winning film “The Judgment”), Amy Yasbeck (known for her roles in “Problem Child” and “Wings”), Maxwell Canfield (renowned for his work in visual effects and animation), and Peter Asher (legendary music producer and member of the duo Peter and Gordon), alongside a host of other influential figures like Maire Campbell, Gia Salazar, and Linsey Godfrey.

The showcase was a culmination of a week-long program designed to empower young creatives from Northern Ireland and Los Angeles, offering them unparalleled opportunities to connect with the industry’s best and brightest. Cinemagic premiered its latest short films produced on both sides of the Atlantic, showcasing the budding talents of its young participants.

Now in its 15th year, Cinemagic Los Angeles has firmly established itself as a global beacon in the creative industries, fostering young talent and celebrating the organization’s international success stories. This year’s showcase was particularly special, marking the end of an immersive program for young people from 12 schools and colleges in Northern Ireland and Los Angeles. These young visionaries were treated to exclusive talks at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills and engaged in masterclasses with top-tier talent from major studios, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Imagine Entertainment.

The program featured insightful discussions led by Emmy-winning TV Producer Jillian King and James Longman, Executive Producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, who shared their invaluable experiences with the eager participants. Sixteen teenagers from Belfast, part of the IGNITE youth leadership initiative by George Best Belfast City Airport, collaborated with Los Angeles peers on projects like ‘Dream Notes’ and ‘Heaven on Earth,’ produced in partnership with local schools.

The showcase not only highlighted the creative prowess of these young talents but also underscored the importance of international collaboration in the arts. Joan Burney Keatings MBE, CEO of Cinemagic, expressed her pride in the event, saying, “We were incredibly proud to collaborate with so many incredible organizations from both Northern Ireland and Los Angeles. The shared ethos among everyone involved was a catalyst for Cinemagic to offer the highest quality opportunities for young people in the creative industries.”

Michelle Hatfield, Chief People and Marketing Officer at George Best Belfast City Airport, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “At Belfast City Airport, we were passionate about building the workforce of tomorrow and championing young people to become future leaders. Through our IGNITE program, the young people had already achieved great things and shown incredible potential.”

Moira Loughran, Head of NI Connections, echoed this sentiment, noting, “We were delighted to partner with Cinemagic as a sponsor of the Los Angeles Showcase. It was a fantastic opportunity to help and highlight the immense talent of our young people from Northern Ireland and to make valuable industry connections in the USA.”

Andrew Elliott, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, added, “It was such a pleasure to partner with Cinemagic Los Angeles, which helped shape our future leaders and provided them with the inspiration to be part of Northern Ireland’s flourishing Creative Industries.”

As the evening concluded, it was clear that Cinemagic’s Los Angeles Showcase had once again succeeded in its mission to inspire, educate, and celebrate the next generation of filmmakers and creatives. The event not only provided a platform for young talent to shine but also reinforced the power of international collaboration in the arts, ensuring a bright future for the global creative community.